On Wednesday October 31, 2007, over 260 University administrators gathered in Masters Hall at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education for a special topics seminar on accountability and compliance in higher education. As University of Georgia leaders, we manage significant stewardship responsibilities with regard to a wide variety of resources and the public trust. Each of our actions or decisions has University and even broader implications. Greater demands for accountability are being placed upon higher education at the local, state, and national levels. Our diverse responsibilities are intricate, yet as stewards entrusted with the care of University resources, we are tasked to be creative and entrepreneurial, cost-effective and efficient, compliant with policy and regulatory requirements, and transparent and accountable in our operations.

Two guest speakers provided an opportunity to learn about the changing environment in higher education in terms of accountability and compliance.

Dr. Stan Ikenberry, past President of the American Council on Education and Regent Professor and President Emeritus of the University of Illinois, provided insight and viewpoints on our roles as University leaders and public figures particularly as we manage academic, fiscal, and administrative outcomes.

Joe Taylor and Tom Champagne of the Huron Consulting Group provided an overview of government’s greater focus on research compliance, information on recent research compliance audits and settlements at other institutions, the top compliance risks in research administration, and trends in research compliance at universities. The Huron Consulting Group will be working with a UGA committee to develop recommendations for creating a “balanced culture” of research administration efficiency and compliance. Improving the level of administrative support for UGA’s research mission, yet maintaining a balance with compliance requirements is high priority with the University administration.

The following slide presentation and various articles were provided at the seminar:

“Establishing a Balanced Culture of Support for Research” – Slide Presentation by Huron Consulting Group

Gillespie, K. H., Rumination: The Concept of Stewardship Applied to Higher Education, Innovative Higher Education, Vol 27, No. 3, Spring 2003
http://www.springerlink.com/content/u447530823377684/fulltext.pdf

Kuh, G.D., Promises and Pitfalls of Institutional Transparency, Change Magazine, September/October 2007
http://nsse.iub.edu/pdf/Kuh%20Risky%20Business%20Change%202007.pdf

Jones, A., Gov. to State Agencies: Review purchase card use, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/05/007
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2007/10/05/audit_1005i.html

Overview of the Ethics and Compliance Reporting System at UGA

Franke, A., & Eisenberg, M., 10 Rules for Avoiding Conflicts of Interests, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 10/12/2007
http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i07/07b02001.htm

Menditto, S., & Dight, K., Document This, Control That, NACUBO Business Officer Magazine, July/August 2007
http://www.nacubo.org/x9211.xml?